1930 Morris Minor goes for a drive 

Bloody hell, I was terrified just watching that. Your a brave man , well done.

Beautiful looking, condition was amazing I don’t know who was braver the owner for letting you have a go or you for driving it.

I owned one of the 1933 sidevalve version as a young man for the whole of 1963. I used it for my 40 mile commute to Portsmouth every day. I became skilled at throwing it through corners. It is essential with the crash gearbox, which I consider very beautiful and instantaneous to use, to be able to heel and toe whilst double de-clutching. I think my gearbox was 4-speed. When changing up, 1 to 2 could be snatched through with no sound. The other up shifts were best done by just pausing until sychronisation. Going down you can instantly blip it into gear. I could drive without the clutch if necessary - it is just a safety device once moving. Unfortunately the engine and rear axle are very delicate and the car cannot cruise above 38mph without running big ends. My brakes were only just detectable in action; for MoT (where I drove it myself as it was a specialist vehicle) I had to use one foot on top of the other. I remember that in desperation I changed to an electric wiper. The starter would never start the vehicle from cold - I had to swing it every morning before work at 7am.

The oldest car I have ever driven was a 1929 Austin 7. The second oldest car I have driven was a 1937 Morris. Cars have evolved so fast since then. Such a pity that drivers have not.

My dad's first car was a '34 Minor. He said it was absolutley terrifying to drive. Nice hat!

I had a 1933 ohc with all hydraulic brakes. I drove mine everywhere. I loved it. Electric start button on the floor same as my early Morris mini. I changed the oil for multi grade and wrecked the engine. I should have used a straight 30. I also made a strip of metal oil diverter, to stop the oil drops from the front of the camshaft cover getting on, and into the vertical generator and stopping it from charging the battery. It was streets ahead of Austin and Ford. Henry Ford said about hydraulic brakes that they were dangerous, and wouldn't catch on. Lord Nuffield probably said silly American person in a Basil Fawlty type voice and carried on.

Blimey, you did very well Matt !.Five years ago , I bought a 1928 Austin 7 Fabric saloon in the same brown , re-aquainting myself with Austin 7 motoring, my first car 50 years ago was a 1938 Austin Ruby, I rebuilt at 15 and gave 3 years of totally trouble-free and happy motoring.However I was in for a shock, it was hard work to drive and a totally different era , and the worst aspect was the attitude and lack of patience of current motorists.There were definitely huge advances in technology in the 1930s which made cars so much more easier to drive , especially synchromesh gear change.I felt guilty giving up on it within a year as if it had done something wrong, it was a charming tiny little car and you felt so ' vulnerable ' but it made people smile where ever it went !.

This is why I love this channel: uncommon cars! I like your taste in cars. When I saw that coat I immediately thought of Rik Mayall from Bottom! Great video, and love the car.

What a smasing hat. I do love that your odd sense of humour is getting in videos more, ive laught with you about 5 times so far

I love the noise it makes. It sounds very eager. Well done for managing to drive it without incident

I have never felt so anxious watching a youtuber before!

The transmission whine in the first two gears is unlike anything I've ever heard! Next time, test drive this kind of car at 3am lol.

Made me think of "The Anthill Mob" from the Whacky Races - combination of car and hat I guess!

I remember vacuum-operated wipers, with absolutely no affection. Dad had 2 Ford Prefects, 1948 and 1956, equipped with this abomination, and my first Holden was similarly afflicted. Climbing hills in the rain called for strong nerves and a good memory, as they worked in inverse proportion to the work the engine was doing. Simple enough, with a vacuum motor connected to the inlet manifold, so the power of the motor was inversely proportional to the engine's volumetric efficiency. Bloody diabolical.

I have a 1931 Morris minor side valve I've owned it for 42 years I can forgive you for the scary drive we can put it down to a first drive from what I could see you was trying to hard just sit back and let the car do the work , there is a little twist nob and you can adjust the tickover and the pedels are so easy to use reverse is where 1is on a four speed box so you have to remember going off From traffic lights so far we are doing well now the brakes are a different matter with 80% of the braking from the back axel it makes for interesting moting but at the price it was faster than an horse and cart but driving in unlit roads at night I've had to stop and get out to see the road but driving a car with hand signals only you have to make your intentions very clear and control the drivers behind you never had any problems with other drivers 1930s driving is different than cars from the 50s and newer thank you for post this wonderful car for everyone to see

This is absolutely wonderful, I love that transmission whine !

Brilliant video, these pre war cars always look such an adventure with every trip

I'm going to share this video the next time someone says anything about "driver engagement" in the modern day argument of manual Vs automatic transmissions. This is real driver engagement and I applaud you for just getting it out on the road and driving it so confidently from the start.

Great videos, all of these. No egomaniac he; it's all about the car! Very detailed...really gets across the essence of the car.

Whilst I do appreciate the vast difference between all the characteristics of this car and what we experience today, I would like to also acknowledge the comment of another contributor on this page - who pointed out - calmly - that there were many other people, (thousands, I presume - I must look up the sales figures!), who were handling these machines (calmly!) - in the day. If we are constantly going to bang on about what these machines did not have compared with the modern stuff, we are missing the point - whatever that is! Many people drive these, and much earlier cars around today, enjoying their machines after the care and attention bestowed on them during and after restoration. They have got used to their foibles and not driven them as if they are going on furious rallying. Maybe the title - "Furious Driving" would have an application in a different type of program. I would give anything to have driven that Morris. Good discipline! Another comment offered was that whilst refinement has progressed - the driving standards have not. That is lamentably true in many cases. I am sure that I, too, have missed some points that some eager individual is dying to point out - but then I - like cars -- am not perfect!

Good show, old chap! Might I suggest that after such a frightfully trying experience, a strong cup of tea and pipe full of ready-rub are in order.

The horn just a fab sound! Don’t really know anything about such old car, still very appealing. The whine on the gearbox is amazing - straight cut for sure! Great test there fella!

What a dramatic driving experience, im still shaking after watching :)

I don't know how you felt after that but i was tense just watching it .. the sound of those gears and the thought of the super responsive drum brakes.... ..The first car i remember in our family in 1957 Dunedin was a Morris 8.

I missed being the first comment by 30 seconds. Close but no cigar. Great car, Morris and Austin played such a pivotal role in the history of the UK. The aural experience alone made that one of the most memorable reviews ever. Every part of the drive is quite extraordinary. Congratulations on a wonderful video.

Hi, I own and drive regularly a 1932 green box saloon version of this car in lovely condition, it has a key, wind up windows, sliding roof, S.V. and though not standard has indiscrete indicators fitted, you really need to think, relax, cool and drive these cars with respect taking into consideration other road users do not give you any. The brakes are not awful it's the way they were, bear in mind this car is 90 years old, the middle accelerator and right brake isn't an issue though I am used to it, it doesn't matter which one you press nothing much happens and if a mistake made revert to the other pedal, Patience is what is needed. If need be send a letter to whoever saying you are stopping at the next junction. I've driven this car many times on 160 miles round trips without an issue and though small a friends daughter persuaded me to use it for her wedding, it fitted right in and got more attention than the 1930 RR. Though I love it I am considering selling it as I'm more into motorcycles and space has become an issue.

If you think that’s terrifying, try driving a Ferguson TE tractor. I took one a short distance to a car show for a friend that owned it. I set off mega-early to avoid traffic. I was perched on a metal seat, with no bodywork, a hand throttle on the steering wheel, and a crash gearbox between my legs. No suspension, indicators or, well, anything really. Road legal, but totally road unsuitable. Every time a car came near me I was terrified. Still glad I did it though- it may have been old and hopeless on road, but there was something just lovable about that tractor. Old machinery seems to have more soul than newer stuff. That’s the vibe I was getting from this video as well.

In 1959 ,me and a friend bought a thirties Morris 8 from a fellow RN guy for £8 in Malta,where we cut off the top and created a nice open tourer.Seeing as we were one of only 3 people to own a car on our ship,(Hms Girdleness),we were quite popular socially.

The first time I tried a right foot gearchange on a motorbike, it was when I was having my first ride on a bike I had just built myself, spending considerable more than I could afford, whilst being lapped by Phil Read (8 times world champion) on a priceless Gilera GP bike, going round Cadwell park. Memorable and terrible all at the same time.

Hi 👋 I have never seen a Morris Minor. There are many interesting features on this car. The sliding windows, the fabric on the outside, the height of the car, & the pockets for the maps. Really enjoyed your video!!! Great content!

Hilarious 😂 you Madman. I'm running out of instruments to describe and don't pull out in front of me I've got cable operated brakes. Excellent I was ****ing myself. Beautiful car and I didn't think you would be able to to sit in the back. God we are so mollycoddled in modern cars, even 70s and 80s cars. 1million % for taking this Minor out for us Matt. Legend. 👏

What a great condition that Overhead-Cam Morris is - a very nice example - looks like a great restoration. Great fun, and enormous fun to drive. Thanks for the video - great stuff. And it gives an idea to 'modern' car drivers what you could expect from a pre-1950's car. Cheers.

What a lovely hat. And what a wonderful car, it's just crazy to think how far we've come in... about 90 years. Alright fair enough that is a long time... But now things as simple as cars from around the world are things, I don't think back then they were expecting a 'MOTOR VEHICLE' company from Korea to create cars we see everywhere.

Glad you weren't faced with an emergency braking situation. Guessing reflex would have had you jamming the accelerator pedal and wondering why you weren't slowing down. 😮 Great video.

Fantastically interesting. Thanks for digging this one up. Something VERY different to the usual fare.

She is certainly a beautiful stately old dame, but that is possibly the most dangerous road test I've yet seen. :)

Very enjoyable watching you struggle to control this lovely old thing! Huge fun though and an achievement not to die during the test, well done!

Absolutely brilliant Matt! It does sound like a vehicle from that era, the thirties. And extremely brave for driving such a classic! I kept watching the wiper blade move while you were driving, and you were constantly and consistently watching the traffic. I thoroughly enjoyed this and all of your content, so thank you for bringing this true British classic to our attention!

I feel your pain, Matt. When I was a new driver, got my foot on the wrong pedal, and backed my Datsun bluebird into the neighbor's garage, going through the wall and crashing into her Dodge coronet. My insurance agent was not pleased.

Hola!!! Me encantó el paseo en el Morris. !!! Gracias. Desde Colonia Uruguay.

I have an Austin 7; 1931 RM saloon. At various points in my ownership I’ve asked myself is there a better pre-war car? My Austin has all the traditional characteristics of the type, and yet, compared to this Morris, the Austin 7 is much easier to drive. On todays roads you do feel like you take your life into your own hands and the vintage car gods sometimes - the brakes, despite the best setting up one can do, aren’t sharp. The steering is affected by quarter elliptical rear springs which means the back axle ‘steers’ as you roll on corners. Yet for all of that the Austin 7 makes me smile. As well as lot of people who see it. There is some special ingredient to the A7. I think by driving this absolutely beautiful Morris (superb restoration) you’ve made me feel that Austin 7s have a ‘user friendliness’ that is the special ingredient. You’ve also made me feel better about not mastering my Dads 1928 Humber, which has a central accelerator too. Indeed - glad to bring that one back home too after an exhausting drive fighting muscle memory and instincts.

Its amazing when you look at these earlier cars to where we are today. Night and day, and in a relatively short time span. That a proper Laurel and Hardy horn.

You learn to appreciate brakes when they desert you. I remember two occasions. The first was on a Sunday drive in our 1956 Prefect, when an exhaust mount broke and the pipe broke a brake line. I drove back home (about 30Km) because Dad trusted my judgement. Second time was a couple of days before Christmas in 1979, when I replaced the rear axle on my 1953 Humber Super Snipe in the carpark of New World Supermarket in Waikanae (apologies to the manager), and after 9 hours of very hard work, I couldn't make the effort to bleed the brakes. Home was only 60Km away. Slowing down with the gearchange requires very good anticipation, and perhaps a bit of prayer. Fortunately, God wasn't angry with me at that time.

Love these really old car reviews, just so different compared to anything after

12:49 Wooo-aargh! That was close!

What an absolutely beautiful sound going through 1st and 2nd. Lovely sound

Despite hailing from the land of bald eagles, Chevrolet, apple pie, FREEDOM®, and overly-aggressive lawyers I've always been fascinated with pretty much all English cars. So totally unlike anything else from America, continental Europe, or anywhere else. BMC cars in particular for some odd reason. Maybe because my first memory of a car was a stunning red and camel tan 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk. III? Who knows and who cares! All I know for sure is this was a properly well done look at a motorcar most aren't familiar with! Maybe I should get an Austin A40 Somerset to match my Studebaker?

What a hoot that looks like! I have a similar hat to yours; one of my favorites; of course in my "hair-challenged state", hat-wearing is absolutely essential, to keep from frying my scalp to a bright red, and so as not to confuse pilots by the glare!

That was a lot of fun, I felt i was along for the ride. Just think that only 25 years later the sublime space age Citroen DS was revealed to the world. 👍

An historic little car, being the basis for the first MG Midget in 1928. Known also as the M-type and using the Minor's chassis and OHC engine, the Midget was a huge success and later models, with supercharging, could hit 80 mph.

Hugely entertaining, Best video so far this year! The combination of danger and extreme concentration hugely appeals to me. Precision fit wiper at 14:00!

This outfit definitely made this interview! Lovely Jubbly!

What a beautiful old Morris and a lovely restoration job as well. Think it would still be the Austin Ruby for me though. Many thanks Matt,

How you drive a car was changing more over that time. To go from that 1930 car to a "modern" 1970 Hillman Avenger is a huge leap in driving experience, 40 years later. But now I can jump from my Avenger to a new fossil fuel car and barely notice the difference, 50 years later. We're going through a bigger driving experience change now of course with electric vehicles.

I had series 1. Land Rover 153 which had a side value engine and crash gearbox, the pedals were normal, but you had to double cluck and get to know the engine revs for a perfect change. I found that eventually I could change gears without using the clutch once moving. I then found that with most cars you could do this. The Landry of course had two ratio sets and a fun item called a hand throttle.

With Steph from "Idriveaclassic" Driving an Austin 7 Cambridge and yourself Driving this Glorious Morris Minor, Truely spoilt for Really Really Vintage Cars at the moment. Truely Charming Car in its own little way. That pedal layout would baffle me No end, Surprised at how you Start it too, Totally would of Expected A starting handle around this time. Great review even if it was a Little Terrifying. Far Braver than I am. I just do not think I would have the bottle to take something out that old. Nice one 👍

That transmission whine is my kind of ASMR

I am not so much into the pre war cars but this one was very nice Matt! Your impersonation of a "sausage vendor" in the raincoat was spot on too 🤣

You said there's very little buttons to play with, and now you know why.... hands full just keeping it moving. A good driver can drive anything is what I was always told, so I see it as a challenge and would enjoy this contraption. Would put indicators and a mirror on it though if it was mine.

That was frankly very scary. Well done you for actually surviving....all the best...Chris 🇨🇦

Wow, well done driving that, looks like a real challenge. Cool hat too!

Wiper reference royalty (triangle of doom) to one Mr Seabrook of somewhere unprouncable in Wales is in order... Fascinating review, thanks! Hat looks very fetching indeed.

Mmmmmm. Straight cut gears. Love that sound

It was truly entertaining to watch you drive this car. I drive a 1930 Ford everyday, The two cars are identical, in very different ways! I can say, with all certainty, that you are not familiar with this car and it shows. Considering you are unfamiliar and uncomfortable with this car, you are doing quite well. I would recommend however, that you review several procedures with the owner before taking it out again...access to the back seat, shifting times, engine starting and warm up, braking procedures...all need some skill-strengthening. Its important to remember that you can not drive these cars like modern cars...you must leave a lot of space ahead of you. At every moment, you must think about the worst possible scenario and how to mitigate it. You will become a true 'defensive' driver.

At 13:42, the transmission sounds like it's laughing at you. A very, very dirty laugh xD

Simultaneously charming and terrifying!

My mum's first ever car in early 60s was a Morris Minor but I am happy to say it's the later edition, not this death trap! It still must have been an early version since when she got it it belonged to an old lady and had sat in a garage for years unused! She has some very amusing stories about it like the day she did a 360 degree spin in the rain... Regardless, fantastic little death trap you've got there.

I love the amount of gearbox whine.

Love the Garry reference. :)

You and these jalopies are a match made in heaven. As with the Ruby, I thoroughly enjoyed your terror. MORE!

Love the Inspector Gadget costume, that was a scary ride! Think I’d have stuck to a horse if I was back then, great video.

That is the most terrified i have ever seen anyone test driving a car 😂😂👍

What a fantastic video about a very special car. Truly terrific.

These old cars really give you a good workout and alertness!

Beautiful condition. Love the trench mac and hat Matt...very 1930's. Great stuff as always.

You're a braver man than me.....my nails are rounded just watching you!

I thought you were going to flatten the battery when you pushed the horn four times. And I was surprised the cable brakes worked in reverse for I think some didn't (they didn't work very well forwards either!). I laughed when you said "Don't pull on front of me - I've got cable brakes, you moron!" People assume old cars stop as efficiently as new ones but they don't. I used colourful language one day when I was hurtling downhill in a Phase 2 Standard Vanguard and someone came dawdling out of a junction right on front of me. The Vanguard was a big heavy car with drum brakes. I slammed them on and managed to get down to the other car's speed about six foot from the oblivious driver's rear bumper, with the sweat running down my face!

Best test drive ever, just brilliant!

That wiper flapping around in the breeze, right in your line of vision is not annoying at all.

Intriguing piece of automotive history, thank you, Matt. Oh and the whine

cool video keep up the amazing content

Well Matt that looked absolutely terrifying!😬 “Hilarious” 🤣 but terrifying! Beautiful car but I think it would be best if it was admired in a museum not on the road! 😰

I enjoy these vintage test drives. Daily drivers for our grand parents! Hope you got back safely. Gord :-)

It makes my Peugeot 1007 look big! What a classic. In these cars every drive must have been an adventure.

My Grandfather (now 94) was taught to drive in one of these by his Garagiste brother: apparently their relationship never really recovered, and I think I know why now...

What a beauty! And that just your hat Lol. Your drive was more frightening than a drive in HubNuts TWC.

That did look terrifying, nice old motor and what a lovely hat as well. Best wishes Furious.

Lovely little motorcar! Matt you are a master of stylish hats.

It looks brand new (apart from the styling). Ford had vacuum wipers into the 50/60s in some models and the odd pedal arrangement in some earlier models.

I feel exhausted just after watching this drive :)

Damn I love vintage car! Absolutely beautiful... 👍

Radiator cap Temp gauge...love them

The problem with vacuum-operated wipers is that when you really need them, e.g. overtaking, they stop working. (No depression in the manifold.) Not that overtaking is going to be a common situtation with this machine.

Square cut gears by the sound of it. My first car my Dad helped me build was a Morris Minor panel van obviously NOT this generation. Dad is an old Pommie car mechanic. Greetings from Oz.

Lovely car. Makes a change from 80s/90s/00s cars Personally that's my bag but this is a very cool look back in time

That pedal arrangement makes heel and toeing so much easier than trying to roll ones foot, impossible when the pedals are well spaced, the full ball of the foot is on the brake pedal when doing so, awkward if one is pigeon toed though! A common arrangement then and much easier to drive than a Model T Ford. Loving the hat as an hat wearer myself, essential when ones head looks like an egg. A nice Panama in summer. More Vintage or Post vintage ( as that Morris is ) drives please.

The Austin 7's (now conventional) layout was copied from the Cadillac Type 53 and the 7 was the first to mass produce the layout. I imagine the Morris Minor didn't have it as they were still sharing/competing in the same market sector with it so didn't copy them for reasons you mentioned in the video. If they had put the 'conventional' pedal layout in then it would be very obvious that they were going after the Austin 7's customers, at least it would have probably looked like that back then when the layouts for controlling the car varied so much from one manufacturer to another.

Great stuff... that looked absolutely terrifying.

Lovely Jubbly, spiffing wee car.

Hats looks great ,cheers nice vid